Buckle and coupling



Dec. 23, 1941..

la GA3 "Il, A mv w 1111111111114 BUCKLE AND COUPLING L. L. sTRAuss 2,266,936

Filed 001'.. l0, 1940 In venor.

A omey Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE 2,266,936 u BUCKLE AND coUPLnG Ludwig L. strauss, Fresno, Calif. Application october 1o, 1946, serial No; 360,682

2 claims. ,(ol. ,c4- 7222 f This invention relates broadly to the class of buckles and/or couplings,and clasps, and more particularly to a buckle which, While the same may be used to advantage for many purposes, will be found particularly practical for use as a belt buckle.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a buckle characterized by simplicity of operation, low cost of manufacture, and elciency in performing the function for which it is designed.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the buckle and illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the buckle members, the hinged parts of said member being shown in extended position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the complemental buckle member.

Referring more in detail to the drawing it will be seen that in the preferred embodiment thereof the buckle embodies a female part indicated generally by the reference numeral 5, and a male pari; indicated generally by the reference numeral 6.

The female part 5 comprises a pair of substantially identical plate members 1 and 8, respectively; each of the members 1, 8, being preferably formed of metal or other suitable relatively rigid material, although it will be understood that in actual practice the plate members 1 and 8 may be formed of leather or analogous material.

The material from which each of the plates 1, 8, is formed, is out, shaped and dimensioned to provide a substantially rectangular plate-like body that is squared at one end and rounded at the opposite end as shown.

Each of the plates 1 and 8 at the squared end thereof is provided with a slot 9 elongated transversely of the plate; and the slot 9, as shown, accommodates a relatively elongated hinge sleeve I8 through the medium of which the plates 1 and 8 are hingedly connected together.

Also each of th-e plates 1 and 8 is provided with a keyhole slot II as shown.

The male member 6 of the buckle is substantially identical, in shape, with each of the plate members 1 and 8, but materially distinguishes from the members 1 and 8 in that the said member 6 at its rounded end is provided with an integral hook I2, the bill of which terminates in a ball-shaped head I2a.' Y

In actual practice the female member 5 of the buckle is secured to one end I3 of a belt or the like by having the terminal of said one end of the belt passed through the aligned slots 9 and around the hinge sleeve I0 and then secured as at I4, and as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The male member 6 of the buckle at its squared plates 1 and 8, with a slot I5 that accommodates a tubular member or sleeve I6.

An end I3a of the belt is trained through the slot I5 and around the sleeve IB and secured as at Ida in a manner to effectively secure the buckle member 5 to said end I3 of the belt.

With the members 5 and 6 thus engaged with the ends I3 and I3a of the belt it will be seen that the buckle may be fastened by first passing the head l2a of the hook I2 through the enlarged end of the slot II in plate 8, and then moving said hook to the extreme end of said slot II in plate 8. The plate 1 is then swung from the position suggested in Figure 3 to substantially the position Suggested in Figure 2, or in other words a position substantially flush with plate 8, the ball-head I2a of lthe hook passing through the enlarged end of the slot II in the plate 1. The plate 6 is then shifted bodily relative to the members 5 to the position shown in Figure 2, in which position the hook I2 is then at the extreme end of the said slot I I in the plate 1. With the parts in this position the buckle will be in fastened condition. Obviously to unfasten the buckle the procedure or steps to be followed is substantially reverseto the procedure or steps above successively set out.

It is though that the simplicity of the invention, together with its many advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

It will also be understood that while I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is in no wise intended to restrict the invention to the precise details of construction, materials, combination and ar-Y rangement as herein illustrated, other than as may be required by the prior art and scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention what isY claimed as new is:

1. In a fastening device of the character described, male and female members; said female member consisting of a pair of plates hingedly connected together at one end and respectively l v21 y e 2,266,936

provided with a keyhole slot; the plates of said female member adapted to be placed in facial contact with the slots in said plates aligning, the enlarged end of the slot in one plate being arranged adjacent the free end of said plate and the enlarged end of the slot of the other plate being arranged adjacent the hinged end of said other plate, whereby the enlarged end of one slot will overlap the small end of the other slot when the plates are folded together; and said male member being in the form of a plate having a hook at one end for engaging in the aligned slots of the plates of the female member, and said hook having the bill thereof terminating in j an enlarged head for cooperation with the slotted portions of the plates of the female member for securing said male and female members fastended together said hook being first passed through the enlarged end of the slot which has its enlarged end adjacent the free end of the plate, and then the hook is moved toward the small end of the said slot, after which the other plate is folded over the lrstplate so that the enlarged end of the slot of said other plate will pass over the enlarged head of the hook and then the hook is moved toward the free ends of the plates.

2. A belt buckle comprising a female member and a male member, said female member comprising a pair of identically shaped plates, said plates ai; one end provided with registering slots, a hinge sleeve engaging said slots for hingedly connecting said plates together, and said male member beingin the form of a plate having a free end provided with an integral hook; and the plates of said female member having elongated slots therein adapted to register when said plates are in facial contact for accommodating the hook of said male member, with the slots in the plates of said female member enlarged, respectively, at one end thereof, the enlarged end of one slot disposed remotely from the enlarged end of the 

